Dunas de Formentera, a Small Luxury Hotel of the World

The pool is small - too small to swim laps - but perfect to soak in a beautiful view, drink excellent wine, frequently dip in to be refreshed. The food at the restaurant steps away is solid. The rooms down the hill are comfortable and spacious - the air conditioning rocks. The staff is wonderful. The public beach down the hill has some of the clearest water I have ever seen. It can be hot, not a lot of shade but a lively hotel on an even more lively island. The hotel is small. We had excellent guests around us. That said it is small enough that a few loud guests could mess up the vibe.

Dunas excels with friendly staff, a beautiful setting, and easy beach access. However, my inconsistent room condition and issues with hotel management created major inconveniences. Positives - The staff stood out, especially at the bar and the pool. Every interaction there was warm and helpful - The location is fantastic, great pool (and drinks) and a quick walk to the beach. Areas That Need Improvement - My stay unfortunately involved multiple unplanned interactions with the front desk, the maintenance team, and eventually the hotel manager, which was not what l expected or wanted while on holiday: - Upon check-in, there was no electricity in the room. Once power was restored, I encountered a major insect infestation all over the room including the bed. Over my objections, Dunas would not offer a room switch and instead sent housekeeping to clean. This experience was far from an ideal first impression. - My rooms air conditioning was not working properly for the first half of my visit; the room would not cool below 80°F (27°C) including overnight. After learning from friends in other rooms that this was not their experience, I escalated on day 3 to the front desk and maintenance but it impacted my overall experience. My issues may have been isolated, but those seeking a trouble-free experience should be aware as they were not resolved as satisfactorily as I would have expected at their prices.

My friends and I had the best time in Dunas. The staff was so friendly, the location is absolutely perfect, food in the restaurant Caliu, just wow! The moment you enter the hotel, you get a profound sense of calm and serenity. Perfect holiday spot to disconnect!

Our visit was end July and the resort was only opened for a month so not sure if some of this will be corrected as the season goes on. Pros Location Great cocktails and food - breakfast and lunch was delicious Cons Rooms are not as advertised and it was met with denial when first raised. The floor plans online did NOT represent what we got (I see now the website has removed the floor plans). A challenging way to start a vacation at a resort of this calibre when you feel ripped off. We booked a junior suite, it had no double sink, large robe or outdoor day bed on a spacious terrace as advertised and paid for. We finally got half a nights discount after much discussion with management (and this ended up being Euro 150 less than promised - in writing! - unfortunately not surprising as we had already had multiple disagreements around what was said and offered as compensation initially with Duty Manager). We learnt is that there is a huge variance in rooms in each type - with some of the Junior Suites being 30% smaller than others - this is listed on the site. I have attached photos from website when we booked and visited and what we got. Rubbish - cigarettes butts and plastic around pool and main walkway to beach from restaurant. Disappointing for a resort that promotes itself as eco and sustainable, particularly as more than saw at any beaches we visited on the island. Restaurant staff using headsets - with only three tables to serve… it completely kills the vibe when someone is opening your wine and loudly and abruptly instructing into the headset to clean the next table. Embarrassing for this size of restaurant to even need this, as was the dynamic between staff heirachy. Based on the room issues I would not return to this hotel, I know this region is expensive and you pay premium for location and the beautiful environment, but the false advertising and attitude we got when challenged it is not acceptable. For average Euro 1500 + per night during Summer season it is not worth it.

Absolutely incredible stay. Perfect setting, so peaceful and the staff cannot do enough for you!

“I just enjoyed a magnificent vacation at this incredible hotel nestled in nature. The experience was fantastic from the moment we arrived, thanks to the friendly and professional reception staff. I especially want to commend Sandra, the head of reception, who made us feel welcome and well taken care of with her professionalism and warmth. We know that you have just started, but we are certain that this place will become our favorite getaway destination. We will definitely be back!”